WHAT WERE POPULAR FORMS OF MUSIC, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, SONGS, COMPOSERS, AND MUSICIANS IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN URBAN/RURAL LIFE? HOW WERE THESE DIFFERENT IN NOBLE/MERCHANT/COMMON LIFE? ANSWERED BY: VICTORIA L.
Music played a great role in Shakespearean England. At this time music reflected all different types of moods and emotions. Not only were there many different types of instruments played at this time, but there were many different types of music. Just like the world today, this time of England's history had popular songs, composers, and musicians. Finally, there were many differences in the music of this time which were based upon where in England the music originated and the different lifestyles of the people creating the music. This was an exciting era in which music and art were changing and growing each day.
According to the Shakespearean Music website, written by Linda Alchin, there were five main musical categories during this time. The first category was church music. This beautiful music played a very significant part in many peoples lives during this time. "Church music included canzonets, balletts, madrigals and ‘sacred songs’."Another category of music was court music. Court music played a large role in court life. Court life was full of many nobles and proper entertainment was needed. For example, nobles were expected to entertain their contemporaries and to show their prowess in dancing during court proceedings. The next category of music was street music. Street and theatre musicians replaced traveling minstrels. This kind of music was played at weekly markets and occasional fairs. Town music was another type of music. This music would simply be played around the town in everyday life. Theatre music was the last category of music that was a part of Shakespearean England. People started to enjoy the theatre much more with music accompaniment.
Without innovative instruments, musicians, and composers music of this time period would not have been the same. According to the webpage "Elizabethan Stringed Instruments" written by Megan Haynes and Brian Hart, string instruments were very popular during this time period. The most popular instrument was the lute, which was played by plucking strings with the fingers. The viol was another popular instrument, which was played with a bow made out of string. Another was the spinet, which was a piano like instrument in which each key had a string that was hit with a soft mallet when the key was pressed. Lastly, the bag pipes and cornet were also commonly played instruments. With these instruments, music became much more expressive and sound became much clearer and more enjoyable to listen to. Soon, these instruments became accompaniment for singers and a place to express emotions. There were also many popular composers and musicians during this time. Some of these musicians include William Byrd and Thomas Campion. Also, John Dowland, a great composer of the time, published his first song book, which became a best seller. One of his most acclaimed songs was "Flow My Tears," a song still known today.According to, Jeffrey Singman in his book,Daily Life in Elizabethan England, " Quite a large number of songs of the Elizabethan period survive, including popular and folk-type songs".(p.170)
In addition, on the Elizabethan England website, Linda Alchin also explains that there are many differences to music based upon ones's position as a noble, merchant, or commoner. Music served very different and abstract purposes for all kinds of people. For some people it was a way of life and for others a way of entertainment. For example, there were house musicians whose job it was to entertain noble royalty like Queen Elizabeth. Every nobleman employed musicians and entertainers for themselves. Even families that were middle class, like merchants, would have atleast one person that would entertain them with musical song or play an instrument. Others, like commoners, were entertained by musicians that worked hard day and night to entertain those more noble than themselves.
Without music this era would not have attained such beauty and interest in our history books. It changed the lives of many people. It became a place to express emotions freely. Music in this era also brought some of history's greatest composers and musicians. According to Shakespeare's Songbook by Ross Duffin, "Shakespeare's song allusions have been recognized for a long time."(p.16) Music became a part of everyones life, both rich and poor.
WORKS CITED
Books
Duffin, Ross. Shakespeare's Songbook. New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Company, 2004. 16, . Print.
Singman, Jeffrey. Daily Life in Elizabethan England . Westport, CT: Greenwood Press , 1995. 170-176,Print.
Music played a great role in Shakespearean England. At this time music reflected all different types of moods and emotions. Not only were there many different types of instruments played at this time, but there were many different types of music. Just like the world today, this time of England's history had popular songs, composers, and musicians. Finally, there were many differences in the music of this time which were based upon where in England the music originated and the different lifestyles of the people creating the music. This was an exciting era in which music and art were changing and growing each day.
According to the Shakespearean Music website, written by Linda Alchin, there were five main musical categories during this time. The first category was church music. This beautiful music played a very significant part in many peoples lives during this time. "Church music included canzonets, balletts, madrigals and ‘sacred songs’." Another category of music was court music. Court music played a large role in court life. Court life was full of many nobles and proper entertainment was needed. For example, nobles were expected to entertain their contemporaries and to show their prowess in dancing during court proceedings. The next category of music was street music. Street and theatre musicians replaced traveling minstrels. This kind of music was played at weekly markets and occasional fairs. Town music was another type of music. This music would simply be played around the town in everyday life. Theatre music was the last category of music that was a part of Shakespearean England. People started to enjoy the theatre much more with music accompaniment.
Without innovative instruments, musicians, and composers music of this time period would not have been the same. According to the webpage "Elizabethan Stringed Instruments" written by Megan Haynes and Brian Hart, string instruments were very popular during this time period. The most popular instrument was the lute, which was played by plucking strings with the fingers. The viol was another popular instrument, which was played with a bow made out of string. Another was the spinet, which was a piano like instrument in which each key had a string that was hit with a soft mallet when the key was pressed. Lastly, the bag pipes and cornet were also commonly played instruments. With these instruments, music became much more expressive and sound became much clearer and more enjoyable to listen to. Soon, these instruments became accompaniment for singers and a place to express emotions. There were also many popular composers and musicians during this time. Some of these musicians include William Byrd and Thomas Campion. Also, John Dowland, a great composer of the time, published his first song book, which became a best seller. One of his most acclaimed songs was "Flow My Tears," a song still known today.According to, Jeffrey Singman in his book, Daily Life in Elizabethan England, " Quite a large number of songs of the Elizabethan period survive, including popular and folk-type songs".(p.170)
In addition, on the Elizabethan England website, Linda Alchin also explains that there are many differences to music based upon ones's position as a noble, merchant, or commoner. Music served very different and abstract purposes for all kinds of people. For some people it was a way of life and for others a way of entertainment. For example, there were house musicians whose job it was to entertain noble royalty like Queen Elizabeth. Every nobleman employed musicians and entertainers for themselves. Even families that were middle class, like merchants, would have atleast one person that would entertain them with musical song or play an instrument. Others, like commoners, were entertained by musicians that worked hard day and night to entertain those more noble than themselves.
Without music this era would not have attained such beauty and interest in our history books. It changed the lives of many people. It became a place to express emotions freely. Music in this era also brought some of history's greatest composers and musicians. According to Shakespeare's Songbook by Ross Duffin, "Shakespeare's song allusions have been recognized for a long time."(p.16) Music became a part of everyones life, both rich and poor.
WORKS CITED
Books
Duffin, Ross. Shakespeare's Songbook. New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Company, 2004. 16, . Print.
Singman, Jeffrey. Daily Life in Elizabethan England . Westport, CT: Greenwood Press , 1995. 170-176,Print.
Websites
Haynes, Megan, and Brian Hart. "Elizabethan England." Elizabethan England N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar 2010.<http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/musicalinstruments.html
Alchin, Linda."Elizabethan Music ." Elizabethan England
. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr 2010. <http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-music.htm>.